Dishwashing apparatus



' April 4, 1939.

G. T. FIELDING DISHWASHING APPARATUS Filed June 27, 1934 5 Sheets- Sheet 1 INVENTbR George T.F1lelding; W97 fl n ATTORNEYS April 4, 1939. G. T. FIELDING DISHWASHING APPARATUS Filed June 27, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 'I'IIIIII F'IIIIIII.

April 4, 1939.

FIELDING DISHWASHING APPARATUS Fi led June 27, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR George TF'ze/ding, BY w hvgw wfib ATTORNEYS the brushes;

Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATE msnwAsmNG APPARATUS George Thomas Fielding, Stamford, Conn. Application June 2'1, 1934, Serial No. 732,697

16 Claims.

The present invention relates to apparatus for washing dishes and the like and has for one of its objects that of providing a dish washing machine which will thoroughly cleanse and wash the dishes through the scrubbing action of a pair of rotary brushes and through the medium of a suitable cleansing fluid applied to the dishes during the scrubbing action, and which will rinse the dishes as they are removed from under the sphere of the brush bristles and to accomplish the above result in a rapid and efiicient manner.

Another object of my invention is to provide an apparatus having the above characteristics which will accommodate itself to various types of dishes, bowls, and glassware,- and the like and which shall be economical to manufacture and to operate. l i

For the purpose of disclosing the invention I have illustrated one embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the washing machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof with certain of the shields removed;

Fig. l is a detail view showing thesupporting means for the front end of the brushes;

. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of the liquid, both cleansing and rinsing, control;

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the drive mounting for Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view showing the valve control for a portion of the rinsing tubes;

Fig. 8 is a detailed section on line 8-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a detailed section on line 9-9 of Fig. 5; Fig. 10 is a detailed section showing the entry ports for the soap fluid to the soap delivery nozzle; and

Fig. 11 is a detailed section of the supporting posts for the splash plates.

In the embodiment of the invention I provide a base I which may be in the form of a rectangular frame having suction feet 2 at each corner thereof. Extending upwardly from this frame near one end thereof isa pair of standards 3 on which is pivotally mounted a' substantially vertically extending support plate 4. This plate at its lower end is provided with a hollow bearing 5 adapted to receive the bearing rod 6 extending between the standards 3, which rod, at one end, is held against rotation by a pin 1 extending through one of the standards and into the rod. The rod at one end is provided with a nut head 8 and at its opposite end is provided with a clamping nut 8f having an operating lever 8". By pulling the nut 8' up tight it will be seen that the two standards 3 are pulled into tight frictional engagement with the spindle portion 5, the spring of the. metal of the standards 3 permitting this. This arrangement permits the adjustment, of the sup- 5 porting plate 4 to any desired angle, even to the extent of permitting the plate to be thrown to a position in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the base.

This plate provides a support for practically the in entire working mechanism of the washing apparatus which includes brushes for scrubbing, simultaneously, both sides of the article to be cleaned, means for delivering a cleansing fluid to the article to be cleaned during the scrubbing 16 action and means for delivering a rinsing fluid to the articles after they have been cleansed and scrubbed.

The brushes 9 and ill for scrubbing the articles extend substantially at right angles to the face of 20 the supporting plate 4 and to this end I provide a pair of rotating shafts having brush receiving socket members H and I 2 preferably provided with axial slots l3. Each of the brushes preferably consists of a bristle brush, the bristles of which are intertwisted with twisted wires I 4, forming the core of the brushes and in effect a shaft. The rear end of this wire is provided with a pin l5 adapted to engage in the slots l3 whereby a drive is established between the shafts and their respective brushes. Each of the shafts extends through to theopposite face of the plate land each of the shafts carries a driving gear, respectively, l6 and I1. These gears intermesh so that v the driving of one gear will drive the other and I the relation of the gears is such that while one of the brushes is driven in a clockwise direction the opposite brush is driven in a counter-clockwise direction; the direction of drive being such that the brushes, when in a horizontal position, rotate .in a direction to draw the plates inserted therein towards the base member. 'One of the gears." is driven from a pinion on a shaft I8, which shaft is provided with a worm gear meshing with a worm on the shaft IQ of an electric motor 20.

. This motor 20-is bolted or otherwise secured to the rear face of the plate 4. A suitable cover is provided for the worm drive as well as a cover for the gears heretofore described The brushes are formed of fiber, carebing taken to select the fiber construction of the brushes so that there will be at least sufiicient animal bristles among the vegetable fiber bristles to tend to strengthen the whole mass of bristles or prevent them from becoming unduly crushed.

' set of tufted bristles such as 2| which preferably At the end of each brush I preferably provide a consist of animal bristles twisted in the wires and the wires then bent back and turned upon themselvm to presenta tufted arrangement substantially as is shown.-

The advantage of this construction will appear more fully hereinafter. that the brushes are of irregular configuration. The brush I, for instance, is provided with a concaved periphery 22 and the brush 9 having a convex portion 23 coinciding and mating with the portion 22 so that the brushes at all times will rotate in contiguous relation and the brushes will contact with the irregular faces, both back and front, of dishes to be cleansed. In order to support the brushes at a distance beyond their rear ends, to give rigidity to the same, I provide a pair of supporting arms 24 and 25, one for each brush, which extend upwardly from forwardly extending brackets 26 and 21 mounted on the supporting plate 4. Extending inwardly from these arms are bearing members 28, one for each brush, which are secured in guide channels on the arms by means of pins 29 extending through slots in the bearing members- These pins prevent the removal of the bearing members from the arms 24 but secure them in position to permit a sliding movement thereof and, to maintain the bearing arms 28 in their advanced position, I interpose between the screws 29 and the end walls of the slot 30 coiled springs 3|. The forward ends of these bearing arms have bearing openings such as 32 to receive the cores or shafts l4 of the respective brushes, and to accommodate these bearing armsthe fibers of the brushes at this point are cut out to a certain extent. However, a certain portion of the fibers which remain twisted in the shafts H, in the shortened condition, provide frictionless bearing for the shafts at this point.- Due to the springs 3| and the slotted mounting of the bearing arms 28, the brushes are maintained in contiguous relation at times while when articles to be cleansed are inserted therebetween a certain amount of give or spread is permitted. The cutting away or cutting out of the fibers to accommodate the bearin; arms 28 leaves a spaced portion in the brushes and in order that, during the scrubbing operation,

there may be no portions untouched the fibers. of the brush on one side of this cut out portion are made longer to make the brushes larger in diameter as at 33 and 34. By this arrangement, when the article is interposed between the brushes the higher portion will lay over the cut out portion and there will be no blank spaces in-the Furthermore, it will be noted that the bearing arms 28 extend very slightly beyond the shafts I 4 of the brushes so that a clear throat will be left between the brushes. 7

For supporting the articles between the brushes during the scrubbing operation I provide a supporting frame which preferablyconsi'sts of a rectangular frame member having front and back ribbed rollers as and as, the rollers preferably i having their surfaces corrugated as illustrated and the side rollers 31 and 38, which are preferably of smaller diameter, are ribbed like the front and back rollers. 'lhis frame is pivotally supported between the outer end of apair of arms 39 and 44 extending forwardly from the supporting plate 4 and pivotally mounted at 4| on the plate,

' whereby the frame may be adjusted towards and away from the brushes. This adjustment is accomplished by an adjusting lever 42 which is adapted to engage a rack on an arm 43. In order to maintain the plane of the frame in substantially the same relation to the brushes irrespective of the adjustment of the frame I-provide a link arm 44 connected to an upwardly extending arm 45 on the frame, at one end, and to the V supporting plate 4 at its other end. It 'will also be noted The cleansing fluid is directed onto the article to be scrubbed and towards the throat of the brushes by means of a pair of directing tubes 45, one above each brush, extending forwardly from' the supporting plate 4 and provided on their inner sides with spray openings 41. 7 their forward ends these tubes are provided with rounded heads 48 having spray openings extending radially. inwardly so that the fluid will be directed clear to the tip end of the brushes, the I tubes stopping short of the brushes at about the point where'the tufted portion 2| commences.

The cleansing fluid tubes extend through the supporting plate and communicate with a soap container 49 preferably in the form of a glass container. The construction and arrangement of this portion will be more fully described hereinafter.

In addition to the cleansing fluid spray tubes I provide, above each of these spray tubes, at rinsing fluid spray tube 5|! which at its forward end is provided with a pivoted extension 5|. The tube and its extension are each provided with spray openings 52 on their inner faces to direct the fluid toward the article to be cleansed and the pivot portion 54 of each extension 5| is provided with a cutoif valve opening 55 whereby when the extension 5| is folded back the flow of water to this extension is likewise cut 01!. These rinsing spray tubes also extend forwardly from the plate 4 and are supported by said plate. They, like the cleansing fluid tubes; extend through the plate and are connected with a suitable control valve 56. The valve member 56 has aconnection 51 with a water supply which in turn communicates through a suitable port 58, and passages 58' and 58" with the rinse water supply delivery port 60. This port has a pair of branches SI and 62 communicating respectively with the rinsing tubes 50 and interposed in the passage 58' is a control valve 63 operated by the stem 64 for controlling the flow of water through the rinsing tubes. The control valve 56 likewise has a by-pass port 61 connected by a pipe 68 with a control valve 59 controlling the admission of fluid to the soap container 49. This block or valve member 69 is. provided on its under face with a delivery nozzle 10 for deliver a receiving nozzle 1! so that, if desired, a certain portion of the water intended for the soap container may be by-passed whereby the soapiness of the cleansing fluid may be controlled. This by-pass is contolledby an adjusting valve 16, and the amount of water flowing through the, nozzle 10 and thereby the force thereof, may be controlled by an adjustable valve 11. when the valve 14 is opened the water flowing from.

the inlet pipe 51 through the conduits I and 2,158,308 the port 12 is delivered to the soap container 49' and thence out of the soap containerby the nozzle H and port 15 to the valve block 58 which has a pair of ports in communication with the tubes 46. The valve 14 is controlled by a cammed valve handle 18 and this valve handle is likewise connected by a link 19 with a snap switch controlling the circuit through the electric drire motor 20 for the brushes. This arrangement is such that when the circuit through the mbtor is closed for the purpose of driving the .b; shes the flow of cleansing fluid through the fluid delivery pipes is also started.

An additional spray member in the form of a disc 8|, perforated on its front face, is adapted to extend-upwardly from the supporting plate 4 and this spray member communicates through a pipe 82 with a port 82 in the valve block 56, which port is controlled by a valve 83 having a stem 84. controlled by a swinging arm 85 T-shaped and adapted by its two opposite arms 86 and 81 to operate the valve stems whereby the operator can control the flow of rinsing water either through the rinsing tubes or the rinsing disc.

The soap container 49 is held in position by a clamping disc 88 mounted on the arm 89 which is offset from a stem 90 swiveled in socket guides 9| on theside of the supporting plate 4. The upper end of this stem is screw threaded and receives an adjusting nut 92 by which the stem may be lowered to release the soap container 49 or it may be raised sufficiently to clamp the soap container on the under side of the head 69.

In order to prevent splashing during the washing operation I provide a pair. ofside-members 93, each of which is adapted to be supported on one side of the scrubbing apparatus from the supporting plate 4, and to this end this plate is provided with forwardly extending lugs 94 having openings and slots 94 therein to receive the beaded end 95 of each plate. This plate is also provided with hinged extension members 96 which may be folded inwardly to prevent upward splashing.

For catching refuse which maybe scrubbed off of the plate or other article I preferably provide beneath the brushes a pan 9! preferably having a foraminous bottom. This pan is removable and in some instances it need not be used, it being supported on the bottom or base I.

In "operation the article to be cleansed is inserted between the rotating brushes which, it will be noted, *rotate in opposite directions and in a direction to draw the plate downwardly. The plateg being drawn between the brushes eventually..i s supported on the frame, this frame having been diiusted to a suitable height and it will be noted that the greater friction of the brushes on the plate is past the center of the plate, although a certain proportion of the brushes project beyond the vertical center of the plate. A part of this portion, however, of the brushes which projects beyond the vertical center is not as heavy and does not have the same frictional engagement with the plate as does that portion of the brush on the opposite side of the vertical center of the plate. Therefore during the rotation of the brushes the brushes also rotatethe plate on its axis. Particularly due to the fact that the plate is resting on the rollers 35 and 36 it can rotate. However, due to the slight frictional en- The two valve stems 64 and 84 are .is slower than that of the brushes so that the brushes will exert a scrubbing action on the plate or other article. By the connection of the cleansing liquid valve with the electric motor, when the electric motor is started to rotate the brushes, the flow ofwater through the soap container is likewise started and a supply of cleansing liquid is .directed inwardly and. towards the throat between the brushes by the cleansing liquid tubes, a certain amount of the liquid also being directed towards the ends of the brushes. As a result, when the article to be cleansed is inserted between the brushes the brushes themselves are saturated with the cleansing fluid and likewisea stream of cleansing fluid is directed towards both sides of the article. When the article is sufliciently' cleansed, by manipulating the valve handle 85, streams of rinsing water are directed against both surfaces of the article as it is withdrawn from between the brushes and after it has passed beyond the cleansing liquid. It will be noted that in this case the streams of water are directed towards the plate or article to be cleansed and also towards the throat of the brushes so that it will not only tend to rinse the article but will alsotend to. rinse the brushes themselves, thereby removing any grease or food particles which may have adhered to the brushes.

Due to the fact that the ends of the brushes are tufted, hollow articles such as large glasses,

bowls, and the like may be readily cleansed by placing the hollow article over the ends of the brushes and in this case the edges of the articles would be supported bythe side. rollers 31 and I have found from experience that the brushes should be rotated sufficiently fast for centrifugal force to have a tendency to throw. the water or cleansing liquid out towards the periphery of the brushes but that this speed should not be so great as to have a tendency to spray or throw the water off and to accomplish the best results in the structure illustrated, I have found that aspeed of about from 250 to 350 R. P. M. is quite satisfactory, as at this speed, while the liquid is thrown towards the periphery 'of the brushes,

it does not go much beyond the periphery of the brushes and is thrown merely sufficiently far to clear the brushes and it will then drop down into the pan.

I claim as my invention: a

'1. A dish washing device comprising, in combination, a pair of rotary bristle scrubbing brushes mounted in substantially the same plane and in substantially parallel relation with the peripheries of said brushes in contiguous relation, the bristles of said brushes being more dense at one end than at the other, and means for. rotatably supporting the article to be cleansed between saidbrushesin a position to have a denser portion of the brushes engaging on one side of substantially the center of said article and the less dense portion engaging the other side to cause-one portion of-the brushes to impart a rotative movement tp the articles while the other portion of the brushes retard said rotative move.- ment. 2.- A dish washing device comprising, in combination, a pair of rotary scrubbing brushes mounted in substantially the same plane and in substantially parallel relation with the peripheries of said brushes in contiguous relation, andsupporting the articles to be cleansed between said brushes.

4. A dish washing device comprising, in combination, a pair of rotary scrubbing brushes mounted in substantially the same plane and in substantially parallel relation with their peripheries in contiguous relation, means. for rotating said brushes in opposite directions, and a substantially rectangular open frame on the delivery side of said brushes adjustable to and from the brushes for supporting thearticles to be cleansed between said brushes.

5. A dish washing device comprising, in combination,-a pair of rotary scrubbing brushes mounted in substantially the same plane and in substantially parallel relation with the peripheries of said brushes in contiguous relation, means for rotating said brushes in opposite directions, and a substantially rectangular franie having rollers on its four sides arranged on the delivery side of said brushes for supporting the. article to be cleansed between said brushes.

6. A dish washing device comprising, in combination,- a pair of rotary scrubbing brushes mounted in substantially the same plane and in substantially parallel relation with the peripheries of said brushes in contiguous relation, supporting means arranged on one side 'of said brushes in substantially parallel relation with said brushes receiving and supporting the articles to be cleansed between said brushes, means supported at one end only for adjusting said supporting means to and from the brushes and for maintaining said supporting means in its mounted on said base and swingable from rightangle to parallel relation to said base, a pair of rotary scrubbing brushes having their peripheries in contiguous relation projecting from one face of said plate, cleansing fluid delivery nozzles extending from said face of said plate substantially parallel with'said brushes, and a motor for driving said brushes in opposite directions mounted on the opposite face of said plate.

8. A dish washing device comprising, in combination, a base. a supporting plate pivotallymounted on said base to swing from a right ana pair of rotary scrubbing brushes extending from one face of said base with their peripheries in contiguous relation, cleansing fluid delivery tubes extending from the face of said plate in parallel relation to said brushes, rinsing fluid tubes extending from the same face of said plate in parallel relation to the brushes, a motor for driving said brushes in opposite directions mounted on the opposite face of said plate, and means for controlling the flow of.fluid through said tubes mounted on said opposite face of said plate.

9. A dish washing device comprising, in combination, a base, a supporting plate pivotally mounted on said base to swing from a right angle to parallel position relative to said base, a.

pair of scrubbing brushes extending from one face of said plate having their peripheries in contiguous relation, means for supporting the articles to be scrubbed between said brushes extending from said face of said plate, and a motor for driving said brushes invopposite directions mounted on the opposite face of said plate.

10. In a dish washing device, comprising, in

combination, a pair of rotary scrubbing brushes.

mounted inlsubstantially the same plane and eries of said brushes in contiguous relation, 9. pair of supporting arms on one side of said brushes, pivotally mounted at one end to permil; adjustment of the free ends relatively to the brushes, an article support mounted on the free ends -of said arms for adjustment relatively to the brushes with the adjustment of the free ends of the arms and means for maintaining said article support in substantially paralleled rela-, tion to the brushes throughout its adjustment.

' 11. A dish washing device, comprising, in combination, a. pair of rotary scrubbing brushes mounted in substantially the same plane and in substantially parallel relation with the peripheries of the brushes in contiguous relation, a pair of supporting arms mounted on one side of said brushes, and pivoted at one end to permit an adjustment of the free ends thereof relatively to the brushes, an article support pivotally mounted on the free ends of said arms and adjustable relatively to the brushes with the adjust bination, a base, a supporting plate pivotally -mounted on said base and swingable from right angle to parallel relation to said base, a pair of rotary scrubbing brushes projecting from one face of said plate, an article support carriedby said plate and positioned on the delivery side of said brushes, and cleansing fluid delivery nozzles extending from said plate substantially parallel with said brushes.

13. A dish washing device, comprisng, in combination, a base, a supporting plate pivotally mounted on said base and swingable from right angle to parallel relation to said base, a pair of rotary scrubbing brushes projecting from one face of said plate, cleansing fluid delivery-nozzles extending from said face of said plate substantially parallel with said brushes, and shields arranged on each side of said brushes and extending from said face of said plate.

14. A dish washing device comprising, in combination, a supporting plate arranged to be sup ported in a substantially vertical position, a plurality of brushes projecting from said supporting plate at substantially right angles thereto,

means mounted on the rear face of said supporting plate for driving said brushes in opposite directions, and a supporting member for the articles to be cleansed projecting from said supporting plate and beneath said brushes, and a motor mounted on said supporting plate and adapted to drive said brush driving means.

15. A dish washing machine comprising, in combination, a supporting plate arranged to be supported in a substantially vertical position, a plurality of brushes extending substantially at right angles to said plate and rotatable in opposite directions in contiguous relation to one another, means on the opposite face of said plate for driving said brushes in opposite directions, a motor for driving said driving means carried by said plate and a supporting frame projecting from said plate in a substantially parallel relation with said brushes and arranged beneath said brushes,

and including a plurality of rollers adapted to receive and support the articles to be cleansed.

16. A dish washing machine comprising, in combination, a supporting plate adapted to be supported in a substantially vertical position, a pluralityof brushes extending from one face of said plate in substantially the same plane and rotatable in contiguous relation to one another, means on the opposite side of said plate for driving said brushes in opposite directions, a motor carried by said supportingplate for drivin said driving means, and a supporting frame carried by said supporting plate and mounted on said plate beneath said brushes and extending in substantially parallel relation to said brushes, said frame carrying a plurality of rollers for supporting the articles to be cleansed between said brushes.

GEORGE THOMAS FIELDING. 

